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Private SectorAlberta Research
Council
The Alberta Research Council (ARC) was founded in 1921 and is recognized
as the first and largest provincial research organization in Canada. Originally known as the
Scientific and Industrial Research Council of Alberta (SIRCA), the
organization
was established to document Alberta's mineral and natural resources for
industry. Since that time, ARC has continued to be a key driver of
Alberta's economic diversification. ARC's original headquarters were located
on the campus at at the
University of Alberta, but were moved to separate facilities in the late
1950s as the organization grew and became more focused on industry. Since
1986, ARC's headquarters have been located in the Edmonton Research
Park.
ARC develops and commercializes technology to give their customers a competitive
advantage in the marketplace. A leader in innovation, ARC operates in a
number of facilities in Edmonton, Calgary and Vegreville, providing its
customers with access to world-class research tools. The organization is
widely known for providing solutions globally to the energy, life
sciences, agriculture, environment, forestry and manufacturing
sectors.
Alberta
Chamber of Resources
The Alberta Chamber of Resources (ACR) was founded in 1935 as the Alberta
and Northwest Chamber of Mines, representing the private sector's mining
interests in Alberta and the two northern territories. In 1977, the
organization changed its name to the Alberta Chamber of Resources,
focusing exclusively on Alberta and began to represent the tar sands in
addition to the historical coal and mining mineral interests.
ACR continues to work with Alberta's resource
industries to offer solutions and seek a balance for the orderly
development of Canadian resources. There are 160 member corporations
representing Alberta's industrial activity including: coal, oilsands, oil
and gas, petrochemicals, pipeline, forestry, metallic minerals, industrial
minerals, utilities, banks, equipment suppliers, transportation systems and
service providers. ACR is primarily associated with the
private sector, acting as a unified voice on industrial concerns and
representing these concerns to the provincial and federal governments.
Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research
The Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research supports top Alberta
scientists whose research improves the health of Albertans and people
throughout the world. Founded in 1980 by a grant from the Government of
Alberta, AHFMR has contributed to the Alberta research environment,
attracting a large number of top scientists involved in all aspects of
medical research.
The goals of AHFMR focus on improving the standard of
healthcare and healthcare related research in Alberta. AHFMR does not have
its own research facilities. The foundation serves as an administrative
head for universities, hospitals and affiliated institutions. One
interesting mandate of the AHFMR is the commercialization of innovations
created by the project. Profits from an innovation are shared by the
researcher, the company that commercializes the innovation and the host
university. Alberta Inno-Centre
The Alberta Inno-Centre is dedicated to promoting advanced technology
in Alberta by helping entrepreneurs start up commercial advanced
technology ventures. The Inno-Centre in Alberta is one of three provincial
centres; the others are located in Ontario and Quebec. Each of these
branches operates under the jurisdiction of the Inno-Centres national
branch.
The Inno-Centres advanced technology start-up program helps its clients
over a period of two years with a number of beneficial services
- Securing the intellectual property of a firm
- Validating the commercial potential of an emerging technology
- Establishing a business model
- Completing and validating a company's management team
- Helping to make strategic and administrative decisions
- Identifying and completing commercial partnerships
The Inno-Centre is involved in a number of diverse advanced technology fields
- Information Technologiestelecommunications, microelectronics,
multimedia solutions, software, optics/photonics, geomatics
- Biosciencesbiotechnologies, pharmaceuticals, diagnostic products,
medical devices, agrifood
- Industrial Technologiesmaterials, automation, processes,
nanomaterials
The Inno-Centre has helped many Alberta businesses to properly establish
their niche in the highly competitive arena of advanced technology.
According to one professor at the University of Calgary, "I believe that
the Inno-Centre is an ideal concept to provide coaching, reduce risks for
entrepreneurs, and assist in attracting venture capital." Canadian Institute
of Mining, Metallurgy, and Petroleum
Founded in 1898, the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy, and
Petroleum (CIM) is the leading technical society for professionals in the
minerals, mining, materials and energy industries with over 12,000
members. CIM was the result of individuals involved with mining
lobbying for safety laws and worker protection, as well as establishing a
network of communication amongst similar trades. In 1998, CIM
celebrated its centennial and growth from a small association to Canadas
leading professional association for the minerals and related industries.
One of CIM's major objectives is the exchange of knowledge and technology.
CIM has established and conducted conferences, publications and awards to
promote an atmosphere for research and development amongst its members. CIM cites its members and their strong sense of community as the
foundation for technological innovation across the country. Their emphasis
is on membership and community which contributes to information sharing
and advancements in research and development. Syncrude
Syncrude Canada is the world's largest producer of crude oil from tar
sands and provides approximately 13 percent of Canada's petroleum needs.
Before Syncrude could begin producing oil from the tar sands, a team of
scientists and engineers worked diligently to discover the most efficient
means to develop and utilize the resource. Syncrude's research and
development, focused around the tar-sands project, has created a
profitable venture for Alberta and created thousands of jobs for the
province.
Syncrude was recognized by the Financial Post as amongst the
top 50 research and development firms in Canada with expenditures of over
$30 million CDN per year. This money is used to invent new technologies
and processes to reduce operating costs, increase production and protect
the environment. Syncrude also supports the process of public
dissemination. An inventors full description of his invention is given to the Canadian government for public use in exchange for exclusive rights to the invention.,
which is sharing new inventions and discoveries with all Canadian
citizens.
"Decades of Discovery"
by Ken Fisher
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Heritage Community Foundation All Rights Reserved
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